State sales tax holiday for emergency supplies starts Saturday

As citizens continue to stay at home because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is urging Texans to shop online or observe social distancing measures during the sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies.

The primary intent of the law that established this holiday, which begins at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, April 25, and ends at midnight, Monday, April 27, is to help Texans prepare for events like hurricanes and turbulent spring storms.

“Unfortunately, strong spring storms, wildfires and the upcoming hurricane season will still threaten Texans in the months ahead, and so it’s important that homes and businesses have the supplies they need to face these emergencies,” Hegar said. “As this pandemic continues to spread, I want to remind all Texans this sales tax holiday applies to qualifying items they purchase online, from the safety of their homes. If visiting your local retailer to purchase items, practice appropriate social distancing as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

There’s no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, including household batteries, fuel containers and flashlights less than $75; hurricane shutters and emergency ladders less than $300; and portable generators less than $3,000.

For purchases made online, note that delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. If the item being purchased is taxable, the delivery charge is also taxable. Consider these charges on purchases during the holiday.